Physiological neutrophilia of pregnancy is not associated with a rise in plasma granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)

A patient with neutropenia and life-threatening infections secondary to T-γ lymphoproliferative disease, who did not respond to treatment with recombinant human G-CSF (filgrastim), was treated with filgrastim plus cyclosporine A (CyA). The patient achieved a good response in the absolute neutrophil count and subsequently required a dose reduction in the filgrastim. The patient was eventually discontinued from the CyA but continues on filgrastim alone. While on therapy, the large granular lymphocytes disappeared from the circulation and the beta-TCR rearrangement, which was present prior to beginning therapy, became undetectable. The patient had no significant toxicity to the CyA or the filgrastim and he has not experienced any serious infections or required hospitalization. Filgrastim has proven to be relatively nontoxic and of some benefit to patients with this disease and should probably be utilized first when treatment is necessary. However, if improvement is not observed, these findings suggest that a trial of the combination of CyA plus filgrastim may be beneficial.     

The effect of an isoprenaline infusion on the splenic blood flow and intrasplenic platelet kinetics

The effect of a constant isoprenaline infusion on the venous platelet count, splenic blood flow and intrasplenic platelet kinetics was investigated in 6 healthy male volunteers. The study was carried out using autologous 111In-labelled platelets and dynamic gamma camera imaging of the initial distribution of radiolabelled platelets between blood and splenic platelet pool. The isoprenaline infusions were administered i.v. over 30 min in a dose of 0.03 micrograms/kg/min. These infusions significantly increased the splenic blood flow and the size of the exchangeable splenic platelet pool. Concomitantly, there was a decrease of labelled as well as unlabelled platelets in the peripheral blood. The intrasplenic platelet transit time was not affected. Before start of infusion, the splenic blood flow was 6.1 +/- 2.9 (SD) % of total blood volume/min and the splenic platelet pool size 34 +/- 9 (SD) %. During infusion the corresponding values were 8.7 +/- 3.9 (SD) and 41 +/- 11 (SD), respectively. It is concluded that an i.v. infusion of isoprenaline enhances splenic pooling of platelets as a result of an increase in splenic blood flow.     

Identification of Plasmid Containing Bacteria in an Activated Sludge Reactor

Samples taken from an activated sludge reactor used for the biodegradation of metal cutting fluids were studied for the presence of plasmid-containing bacteria. Twenty different bacterial isolates contained one or more plasmids. After numerous transfers of the isolates through LB broth, 55% of the plasmids were spontaneously lost as evidenced by agarose gel electrophoresis. Eighty percent of the isolates were resistant to one or more antibiotics, 65% resistant to two or more antibiotics, 40% resistant to three or more, 20% resistant to four or more and 5% resistant to five antibiotics. The isolates were also tested for their sensitivity to several common metals. This study has demonstrated that activated sludge is a natural reservoir for plasmid-containing bacteria involved in biodegradation of wastes.